Apple is interested in the autonomous car – Zonebourse.com

Apple has meddled in the debate surrounding the regulation of the autonomous car, showing himself to be enthusiastic for the potential of this means of automated transport, and calling the us regulators not to limit the testing of this type of vehicle.

It’s been over a year since the rumour is that the giant electronic works to a project of autonomous car, that Apple had until now never confirmed.

But in a letter of five pages to be sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal authority responsible for road safety, Steve Kenner, director of product integrity at Apple, suggests clearly that the manufacturer of the iPhone and iMac is interested in the technologies of autonomous car.

“The company invests heavily in the study of learning machines and automation and it is enthusiastic about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transport,” he wrote in a letter dated November 22.

“(…) The automated vehicles have the potential (…) to avoid millions of car accidents and thousands of victims each year, and give mobility to those who are deprived of it.”

Apple is urging the NHTSA to do not place too many restrictions on the testing of this type of vehicles, adding that the “established manufacturers and new entrants should be treated on a walk for equality”.

In September, the Obama administration has put forward a directive by 15 points in favour of the development of autonomous cars, calling on manufacturers to submit of their own accord into the workings of their system to regulators.

The u.s. president had also expressed the willingness of the government to grant the powers of examination and approval of technology related to autonomous cars before their release, not wanting to leave them in the hands of the States.

But, since the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections of 8 November, an organization in the automotive sector called on the future administration to review all regulations, including the directives of Barack Obama in the domain of the autonomous car.

Some analysts believe that millions of jobs will be destroyed once the autonomous vehicles have taken the place of trucks and taxis, and that the need of repair, due to the expected reduction in the number of accidents, will be less important. (David Shepardson, Benoit Van Overstraeten for the French service)